SAN FRANCISCO – A pair of Vanderbilt men’s golfers advanced to match play at the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship after stellar showings over two rounds of stroke play at the leading annual golf tournament in the United States for amateur golfers.
Junior Chase Nevins and sophomore Ryan Downes moved to match play at the U.S. Amateur after finishing inside the top 64 at the end of two stroke play rounds at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Nevins carded 1-over 141 to finish in a tie for 23rd. Downes posted a 36-hole score of 3-over 143 to end in a tie for 48th with 20 other golfers. The sophomore survived a 20-for-17 playoff on Wednesday morning with an 8-foot birdie on his first playoff hole to advance to match play.
The Round of 64 begins Wednesday on the Lake Course at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. Nevins will face off against Jackson Herrington of Tennessee at 11:50 a.m. CT, while Downes takes on Christiaan Maas of Texas at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Fans can click here for Round of 64 matchups at the 125th U.S. Amateur.
In stroke play, Nevins went 1-over 71 in Monday’s Round 1, closing out the day with back-to-back birdies on Holes 17 and 18. The Great Falls, Virginia, native carded even par 70 in Tuesday’s Round 2 to finish at 1-over 141. The junior collected a total of six birdies, with three coming in each round.
Downes opened stroke play by going 2-under 68 in Round 1 on the Ocean Course. The Longmeadow, Massachusetts, native collected five birdies and went 4-under over his final 10 holes to end Monday in a tie for fifth. He would finish 5-over 75 in Tuesday’s second round to finish tied for 48th with 20 other golfers at 3-over 143. In the 20-for-17 playoff on Wednesday morning, Downes sank a birdie-putt eight feet out on his first hole to join Nevins in match play.
A total of six Commodores competed at the 125th U.S. Amateur. Junior Carlos Astiazaran, along freshmen Will Hartman and Michael Riebe, each finished tied for 68th with a two-round score of 4-over 144. Senior Wells Williams concluded play at 9-over 149 to tie for 147th in the 312-golfer event.
Golf Channel and Peacock will provide live coverage of the 125th U.S. Amateur starting Wednesday and ending Sunday.
Wednesday’s Round of 64 and Friday’s quarterfinals air on Peacock from 5-6 p.m. CT before heading to Golf Channel from 6-8 p.m. CT. Thursday’s Round of 16 will be exclusively on Golf Channel from 6-9 p.m. CT.
Golf Channel will have semifinal coverage on Saturday…
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